IRS 'already looking into Harvard's tax-exempt status' before Trump call

The US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is reportedly planning to revoke Harvard University's tax-exempt status in what would possibly be an illegal move, amid Donald Trump's concerted attack on the independence of higher education institutions.

- Sam Levine Anna Betts

On Tuesday, Trump called for Harvard, America's oldest and wealthiest university and one of the most prestigious in the world, to be stripped of its tax-exempt status.

"Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting 'Sickness'? Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!" the US president said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

The Trump administration asked the top attorney at the IRS, the federal tax agency, to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status.

It is illegal for the president to direct the IRS to conduct an investigation or audit.

Harrison Fields, a White House spokesperson, told the Washington Post that the IRS had begun investigating Harvard before the president's statement.

"Any forthcoming actions by the IRS will be conducted independently of the president, and investigations into any institution's violations of its tax status were initiated prior to the president's TRUTH," Fields said, referring to Trump's social media post.